Can You Download Game Disc Xbox 360

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You get a new Xbox 360 game, do you install them before playing? My Xbox scratched my L4D2 disk some time ago, but, since i had it. Xbox 360 was a complete overhaul of the first Xbox. It is a complete media center where gamers can play, network, and stream an array of content such as songs, images, Read more about How to Play Xbox 360 Games without the Disc[].

Best answer: If you value convenience, Xbox Play Anywhere, or Game Pass above all, digital is your best bet. If you're motivated most by getting the best price, then you should buy physical games.

  • Amazon: Xbox gift card (From $10)
  • GameStop: Pre-owned games

Some folks, including those who work here at Windows Central, have gone all digital to rid their lives of clutter, and that is a very valid reason. Some of us on staff have in excess of 250 titles in our collections, and that'd make for a mountain of physical discs and cases.

Digital doesn't also mean you have to stop buying games at your favorite retailers. You can go into a store or online to somewhere like Amazon or the Microsoft Store and hand over your cash in exchange for a download code, or for Microsoft Store credit to spend through your console.

Embrace your laziness and get rid of clutter with digital copies.

Then there's the ever-growing population of ID@Xbox titles from smaller developers. More often than not these are only available in digital form from the store. Likewise, if you want to take advantage of Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Game Pass, you're 100% reliant on digital downloads.

Physical discs might seem like they would have an installation speed advantage — for most gamers, the Xbox can read off the disc faster than it can download the full game from the internet — but that advantage has been mostly scuttled by the massive first-day download patches that have become par for the course for practically every major game release these days.

And finally, for those of us who hate getting up, digital copies allow you to fully embrace your laziness. You don't need to extract yourself from your comfortable spot on the couch to pop a new disc in. That physical discs install fully to the Xbox's hard drive and still require you to insert the disc to play makes a case for digital even stronger.

For digital

Xbox gift card

Keep your account topped up with credit.

Not only are gift cards great gifts for your loved ones, but they're a great way to keep your account topped up to buy games with, and a good alternative if you'd rather not leave a credit card attached to your account.

The case for physical is essentially a monetary one. As you're giving someone money for an object, you're not as limited to where you can get your games from as if you're buying digital. Sure, download codes are sold in a number of places, but discs are sold in more.

One of the big things you will nearly always see with physical copies of games is that prices drop a lot quicker than their digital counterparts. There are some ancient digital games on the Store that are still full price but can be had for peanuts somewhere like Amazon or your local game retailer.

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Buying physical opens you up to buying pre-owned or trading in your finished games.

In-store deals are frequent among traditional retailers, and it's unlikely a week will ever pass by without there being something worth snapping up.

Buying physical also opens you up to buying pre-owned from places like GameStop and eBay, while also being able to trade in your finished games for money off something else. Once you've completed a digital title, it just sits there, paid for and with no further benefit to you. You can sell a disc online or trade in for credit on the next hot new game.

And of course, some of us enjoy having a collection, especially considering that special, collectors editions of games often come with a physical copy, not a download code. See the Rage 2 collectors edition as an example of that.

So which is best?

There's no right and wrong answer. Only you can decide what is best for you. Our recommendation is a little bit of both. It doesn't matter how you get your games just so long as you're getting what you want and you're happy with what you've paid.

There are distinct financial benefits to be had from buying physical copies which can't be ignored, but there are plenty of good and valid reasons for going digital. You can't go far wrong keeping your options open.

Top up

Xbox gift card

Buy digital games with credit from a physical store.

There are plenty of reasons you might want to have both digital games and the ability to buy from someone who isn't Microsoft, and topping up your account with a credit code is a great way to do it.

Pre-owned goodies

How To Download Game Disc To Xbox 360

You

GameStop pre-owned games

Save a bundle buying pre-owned physical games.

Buying physical games gives you the opportunity to save a packet and buy pre-owned. And then the opportunity to trade-in yourself when you're done. Everyone's a winner!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.

Richard Devine

Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

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Should you buy digital or physical Xbox One games?

For digital

Xbox gift card

From $10 at Amazon

Top up

Xbox gift card

From $10 at Amazon

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Pre-owned goodies

Games

GameStop pre-owned games

See at GameStop
Now playing:Watch this: Xbox 360 games work on the Xbox One

Install Xbox 360 Games Free

Microsoft on Monday surprised the video games world with news that its Xbox One console will be able to play old Xbox 360 games. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox at Microsoft, explained at the E3 gaming conference how backward compatibility was one of the most requested features for Xbox owners. Microsoft has listened to its fans, Spencer said, and will deliver the feature later this year.

Here's how it works: If you previously bought an Xbox 360 game from the Xbox Marketplace, you will be able to download it to the Xbox One and play it natively. Users who bought games on discs can also take advantage of this feature too. Simply pop in the disc to the Xbox One download the game to your system.

Aside from granting Microsoft permission, game developers don't have to do anything extra to make their games backward compatible. Xbox One preview members can play a selection of titles starting today, however everyone else will have to wait until this later this year. While no firm date was announced, Microsoft said that over 100 Xbox 360 titles will be available to play on the Xbox One sometime this holiday season.

You can view a complete list of compatible Xbox 360 games here.

The company also announced a new customizable controller called the Xbox Elite Wireless , which lets you swap buttons and features race-car style paddles.

  • Follow all the latest news from E3 2015 on CNET and GameSpot.

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